I thank the Minister of State. She is here on behalf of Deputy Butler. She said individuals have sat on that advisory group but it is not even a permanent structure. In the programme for Government we were promised a stand-alone mental health strategy. Unfortunately, we have not gotten the answers we needed today. I am not doing this for Eileen Flynn; I am doing this on behalf of the National Traveller Mental Health Network. When are the Government and the Minister going to honour what they committed to in the prog…

I thank the Minister of State for her time.

Yesterday, when President Zelenskyy was speaking to the Dáil and Seanad in very unfortunate circumstances, it struck me when he stated Ireland’s “skill in valuing lives … [and] its community development experience” are among what we are known for throughout the world. I found that very empowering for us as a country, in that we are recognised not just for our culture of drinking or music but also for the community development role we play in the world. I am a qualified community development worker, so I know the va…

I did not make a point during this debate at all today. I have listened to Senator Mullen speak again about how it is a crime for women in our country to seek safe access to having an abortion. I come from a very religious family and I am very religious myself, but the women of Ireland and Ireland as a whole spoke in 2018. We voted to repeal the eighth amendment. In this country, and as a legislator myself, in terms of what we are doing here, we should not be made to feel crap because we want to support women to ha…

Senator Keogan should excuse me, it is my turn to speak not hers. That is my point. It is important that I have the time to speak as well.

It is not a crime.

I want to thank every person in the House. I am a proud Member of the Seanad today and it is one of my proudest days in the last two years. I can now be a proud woman and gender equality activist in saying that women in our country will feel a little bit safer in having access to healthcare services without feeling intimidated. I want to make a note to Senator Mullen. I respect what he says in that we cannot judge all people. We cannot judge women or pregnant people who need to seek abortion.

There was no allegation.

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I was not expecting her to come to the House today so I feel privileged to be able to speak to her. She told the Dáil she is not the Minister of good intentions but the Minister of action. I really appreciate that because unless all our legislation is implemented and overseen, the pieces of paper we have are absolutely pointless. I am aware that the Minister of State is a very hard worker and really cares about people with disabilities. I am a member of the Joint Commit…

I show my solidarity with the Ukrainian people, those who are fleeing war and Russian aggression and those who are still in their country. I am very proud of our country. I am very proud of Ireland for standing in solidarity and supporting Ukrainian people at this time to seek refuge in the unfolding crisis. I would like to see an important step in our rethinking of how we deal with humanitarian and refugee crises around the world. I wish our country would offer the same solidarity and support to all refugees that …

On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I wish all women in civil society a happy International Women's Day. Our thoughts and prayers today are with the women of Ukraine, as well as Syrian and Yemeni women and children and all those who are living in war and violence. I want to talk a little bit today about the National Traveller Women's Forum, which is a Traveller women's organisation. I am on a career break from the forum, having worked for it for almost three years before I came to this House. The National Trav…

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time out to allow me to address the House. I thank Deputies for the opportunity and for allowing me to be here on what is a historical day. I welcome my little girl, Billie, who is in the Gallery. Just before I came into the Chamber, one of the ushers told me that I should remember that I am not here for nothing and that I am here because I deserve to be here. I thought that was a lovely comment for him to make when I was coming in. I want to start by speaking about the …

I second the motion. Following on from Senator Ruane's remarks, I will go straight into more of the stories contributed to the project: To Lizzie, who ... [values] the winter conversations at the open fire, with people coming from all parts of the halting site for cups of tea and chats by her father's lamp. Lizzie loves Traveller culture but it's not part of [Traveller] culture to live without basic human needs. No one should have to take the ice off the inside of [the trailer] windows before sending children to sc…

Today I want to bring to people's attention that March is anti-racism month, a month that focuses on interculturalism, equality and anti-racism. On 1 March five years ago, Travellers were recognised as an ethnic minority group in Irish society. NGOs and Travellers fought for many years to be recognised by the State as an ethnic minority group. Thankfully, we are now recognised by the State, even though we have always existed in Irish society and always played an equal part in our society. This year we mark 100 year…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today to address this critical matter. My colleagues and I in the Civil Engagement Group are very passionate about mental health and the inequality that young people from disadvantaged communities experience in the mental health system. Yesterday my colleague, Senator Lynn Ruane, brought forward a motion on a drugs citizens' assembly but, unfortunately, it was voted down in this House. I am standing here even more disheartened as a result. Although we are hearin…

I know. I am just putting that on the record. I thank the Minister of State.

I understand that. I am still very new to all this.

Yes, I am sharing my time with Senator Higgins.

I do not have a speech prepared for this discussion. Listening to Senator Ruane, I thought of some of the friends I went to school with who have died from taking drugs and drug addiction. I also think of some young Traveller men. The high rate of suicide within the Traveller community is also caused by drug addiction. We have a homelessness crisis and Travellers are overrepresented in the prison system, as are working class people. We have to ask why? What is addiction? Addiction can also be taking tablets. We ofte…

I second the amendment.